holiday help

[lucyp]

We are looking to "saving up" to go on holidays next year - preferably somewhere tropical and warm. Thought perhaps Fiji as we had heard good things about it - any other hotel/island destinations / recommendations would be highly appreciated :) DS would be one and a half at the time we are looking to go.

TA :)

[flower]

Lucyp, I've been there about 4 or more times and seen a few different parts too...what are your 'requirements' and I'll give you a few places...
O's mom.

[lucyp]

We looked at Turtle Island ( they take kids for 3 weeks of a year) - big mistake ! - totally gorgeous and incredibly expensive!!! We are looking for somewhere that has a nanny kind of thing happening if possible - so if we wanted to disappear for a few hours - then bub would be cared for. Also would prefer an island situation rather than mainland Nadi. 4starish would be good -but not essential as word of mouth is always a draw card.
Thanks heaps :)

[flower]

I agree..get off Mainland...mamanucas age good...Particularly Matamanoa..its the furthest of the set of islands......you need to find out about their child policy though..but they do take the kiddies more oft than most. Not 4star I dont think but very small and beautiful Island. You can walk up to the top and around.
I did stay at a 4 star one near Lambasa...but the name escapes me.....I'll think of it. It was supposed to be 5 * but more like 4. A bit harder to get to also.
I also stayed at Yasawa Is Lodge..just as xpensive as turtle.....but sooooo nice...and no kid policy for most of the year...but things change. Do a google and ask them, or get a travel brochure and check out the "honeymooner' destinations. You can at least that way send me names and I can give you a rough idea on what it's like.
Don't like the coral coast........not m cup of tea, yet the Shangri la's are popular with families.
You wont find any issues having your little one/s sat by a nanny...I'd trust my bb with a Fijian any day..they're magical with kiddies. Another one near Matamanoa is tokoriki?? and was nice too.......anyway...its been several trips over the last 10 years, so throw some names my way and I'll try and recall...though years too have gone by........
O's mom

[clairbear]

Hi lucyp..I know you said you would prefer an island rather than mainland, but thought I would share my experience anyway, since my son was eighteen months old when we went....as yours will be. We stayed on the mainland at Shangri-la's Fijiian resort and it was BRILLIANT! We thought of an island too but were glad we decided not to as it would prob have added to the travel time...one thing I would not recommend with a toddler! The resort was a forty minute bus trip from the airport, manageable. They have a kids club there for twos and up but also very cheap babysitters (five bucks an hour) who will take your toddler to the kids club if it's daytime and give them one on one care, or babysit them in your room at night. What I also liked about this resort (as maybe compared to an island), was it's size, therefore choice of things to do and places to eat .... three restaurants, three pools(one for families, one for adults only and one for everyone to join in games of water basketball or aquarobics), scubabdiving, beauty spa, massage huts, several bars, a little gym,golf course, tennis courts and lots of different places to explore. They had free kids' lunches and dinners at special early times in one restaurant....lots of parents would sit with their kids while they ate and had a drink from the bar, then ate their own dinner later while the kids were babysat (either in rooms or with the kids club set up each evening in the games room with kids' movies).
We had a ball and will definitely be going again! Hope this helps! Whatever you decide, Fiji is ideal for a family holiday as they absolutely LOVE kids!!